APOA5 is a low-abundance exchangeable apolipoprotein that plays critical roles in human triglyceride (TG) metabolism. Indeed, aberrations in the plasma concentration or structure of APOA5 are linked t Show more
APOA5 is a low-abundance exchangeable apolipoprotein that plays critical roles in human triglyceride (TG) metabolism. Indeed, aberrations in the plasma concentration or structure of APOA5 are linked to hypertriglyceridemia, hyperchylomicronemia, myocardial infarction risk, obesity, and coronary artery disease. While it has been successfully produced at low yield in bacteria, the resulting protein had limitations for structure-function studies due to its low solubility under physiological buffer conditions. We hypothesized that the yield and solubility of recombinant APOA5 could be increased by: Show less
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in many biological activities including immune defense against pathogens. In this study, we applied high-throughput sequencing technology to examine miRNAs in Japanese Show more
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in many biological activities including immune defense against pathogens. In this study, we applied high-throughput sequencing technology to examine miRNAs in Japanese flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) infected with Streptococcus iniae at different times. A total of 1038 miRNAs were identified, of which, 249 were novel miRNAs, and 81 showed differential expression (named DEmiRNAs) after S. iniae infection. Of the 81 DEmiRNAs identified, 34 and 58 occurred at 6 h and 24 h post-infection, respectively; most DEmiRNAs were strongly time-specific, and only 13.6% of the DEmiRNAs were shared between the two time points. A total of 9582 target genes were predicted for the 81 DEmiRNAs. The putative target genes were enriched in various GO and KEGG pathways of biological processes and molecular/cellular functions, in particular endocytosis, regulation of transcription, lysososme, and the signaling pathways of MAPK, ErbB, and AMPK. One of the DEmiRNAs, pol-3p-10740₁₇₅, was found to target dual specificity phosphatase 6 (Dusp6) and repress the expression of the latter. Transfection of flounder FG cells with pol-3p-10740₁₇₅ caused a significant inhibition on S. iniae invasion. The results of this study provided the first S. iniae-induced miRNA profile in Japanese flounder and indicated that flounder miRNAs play an important role in antibacterial immunity. Show less
Branched-chain α-keto acid dehydrogenase kinase (BCKDK), the key enzyme of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) metabolism, has been reported to promote colorectal cancer (CRC) tumorigenesis by upregula Show more
Branched-chain α-keto acid dehydrogenase kinase (BCKDK), the key enzyme of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) metabolism, has been reported to promote colorectal cancer (CRC) tumorigenesis by upregulating the MEK-ERK signaling pathway. However, the profile of BCKDK in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) remains unknown. Here, we report a novel role of BCKDK in mCRC. BCKDK is upregulated in CRC tissues. Increased BCKDK expression was associated with metastasis and poor clinical prognosis in CRC patients. Knockdown of BCKDK decreased CRC cell migration and invasion ex vivo, and lung metastasis in vivo. BCKDK promoted the epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) program, by decreasing the expression of E-cadherin, epithelial marker, and increasing the expression of N-cadherin and Vimentin, which are mesenchymal markers. Moreover, BCKDK-knockdown experiments in combination with phosphoproteomics analysis revealed the potent role of BCKDK in modulating multiple signal transduction pathways, including EMT and metastasis. Src phosphorylated BCKDK at the tyrosine 246 (Y246) site in vitro and ex vivo. Knockdown and knockout of Src downregulated the phosphorylation of BCKDK. Importantly, phosphorylation of BCKDK by Src enhanced the activity and stability of BCKDK, thereby promoting the migration, invasion, and EMT of CRC cells. In summary, the identification of BCKDK as a novel prometastatic factor in human CRC will be beneficial for further diagnostic biomarker studies and suggests novel targeting opportunities. Show less
Growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15), a member of the transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) superfamily, is a prognostic biomarker of cervical cancer. In addition, GDF15 has been reported to enhanc Show more
Growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15), a member of the transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) superfamily, is a prognostic biomarker of cervical cancer. In addition, GDF15 has been reported to enhance the migration of colorectal cancer cells and liver cancer stem-like cells. However, the mechanism by which GDF15 promotes cervical cancer cell migration is not completely understood. Here, we report that GDF15 expression is enhanced in cervical cancer tissues, as well as in cultured cervical cancer cells. ShGDF15 transfection markedly inhibited expression of Vimentin, N-cadherin and Snail1, and resulted in up-regulation of E-cadherin expression in HT-3 and HeLa cells. Moreover, knockdown of GDF15 suppressed wound healing rate and reduced the number of invasive cells. Furthermore, knockdown of GDF15 significantly suppressed the expression of phosphorylated Smad2 and Smad3. The addition of TGF-β1 partially abolished the inhibitory effects of GDF15 knockdown on the migration and invasion of cervical cancer cells. In summary, we report here that GDF15 knockdown inhibits migration and invasion of cervical cancer cells in vitro through the TGF-β/Smad2/3/Snail1 pathway. Show less
Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis is a life-threatening disease, particularly in immunocompromised patients, despite currently available therapy. IL-27 is an important regulatory cytokine in infection Show more
Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis is a life-threatening disease, particularly in immunocompromised patients, despite currently available therapy. IL-27 is an important regulatory cytokine in infection and immunity. However, its role in the pathogenesis of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis remains unknown. Here we found that Show less
Esophageal cancer is one of the most common cancers worldwide with poor prognosis and high mortality. The transcription factor Expression of Cumulatively, these results establish an important mechanis Show more
Esophageal cancer is one of the most common cancers worldwide with poor prognosis and high mortality. The transcription factor Expression of Cumulatively, these results establish an important mechanism by which decrease in miR-203 expression potentiates metastatic progression in EC via USP26-mediated stabilization of Snail1. Hence, miR-203 can serve as a biomarker of metastasis in EC and is a potential target for therapeutic intervention in EC. Show less
Deregulation of the basic helix-loop-helix family member e41 (BHLHE41) has been characterized as a marker of progression of several cancers. In this study, we aimed to explore the mechanism by which B Show more
Deregulation of the basic helix-loop-helix family member e41 (BHLHE41) has been characterized as a marker of progression of several cancers. In this study, we aimed to explore the mechanism by which BHLHE41 regulates the invasion of breast cancer cells. BHLHE41 suppresses, whereas the silencing of BHLHE41 promotes tumour invasion of both MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells. Meanwhile, BHLHE41 down-regulated the transcription and translation of SNAI1, SNAI2, VIM and CDH2, and up-regulated those of CLDN1, CLDN4 and CDH1. Reporter assay indicated that silencing of BHLHE41 dramatically activated the MAPK/JNK signalling pathway in MCF-7 cell line and the hypoxia signalling pathway in MDA-MB-231 cell line. Furthermore, silencing of BHLHE41 activated the MAPK/JNK signalling pathway by up-regulating phosphorylated JNK and failed to affect the expression of HIF-1 alpha in MCF-7 cells. After blocking the MAPK/JNK signalling pathway by specific inhibitor SP600125, silencing of BHLHE41 failed to promote tumour cell invasion. These results suggest that BHLHE41 facilitates MCF-7 cell invasion mainly via the activation of MAPK/JNK signalling pathway. In conclusion, although BHLHE41 suppresses tumour invasion in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cell lines, the specific regulatory mechanisms may be different. Show less
Circular RNAs (circRNAs), highly expressed in the central nervous system, are involved in various regulatory processes and implicated in some pathophysiology. However, the potential role of circRNAs i Show more
Circular RNAs (circRNAs), highly expressed in the central nervous system, are involved in various regulatory processes and implicated in some pathophysiology. However, the potential role of circRNAs in psychiatric diseases, particularly major depressive disorder (MDD), remains largely unknown. Here, we demonstrated that circular RNA DYM (circDYM) levels were significantly decreased both in the peripheral blood of patients with MDD and in the two depressive-like mouse models: the chronic unpredictable stress (CUS) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) models. Restoration of circDYM expression significantly attenuated depressive-like behavior and inhibited microglial activation induced by CUS or LPS treatment. Further examination indicated that circDYM functions as an endogenous microRNA-9 (miR-9) sponge to inhibit miR-9 activity, which results in a downstream increase of target-HECT domain E3 ubiquitin protein ligase 1 (HECTD1) expression, an increase of HSP90 ubiquitination, and a consequent decrease of microglial activation. Taken together, the results of our study demonstrate the involvement of circDYM and its coupling mechanism in depression, providing translational evidence that circDYM may be a novel therapeutic target for depression. Show less
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is regarded as a threat to public health; however, the pathologic mechanism of NAFLD is not fully understood. We attempted to identify abnormally expressed lon Show more
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is regarded as a threat to public health; however, the pathologic mechanism of NAFLD is not fully understood. We attempted to identify abnormally expressed long noncoding RNA (lncRNAs) and messenger RNA that may affect the occurrence and development of NAFLD in this study. The expression of differentially expressed lncRNAs in NAFLD was determined in oleic acid (OA)-treated L02 cells, and the functions of CCAT1 in lipid droplet formation were evaluated in vitro. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were analyzed by microarray analysis, and DEGs related to CCTA1 were selected and verified by weighted correlation network analysis. The dynamic effects of LXRα and CCTA1 on lipid droplet formation and predicted binding was examined. The binding between miR-631 and CCAT1 and LXRα was verified. The dynamic effects of miR-613 inhibition and CCTA1 silencing on lipid droplet formation were examined. The expression and correlations of miR-631, CCAT1, and LXRα were determined in tissue samples. As the results show, CCAT1 was induced by OA and upregulated in NAFLD clinical samples. CCAT1 silencing significantly suppressed lipid droplet accumulation in vitro. LXRα was positively correlated with CCAT1. By inhibiting miR-613, CCAT1 increased the transcription of LXRα and promoted LXRα expression. The expression of LXRα was significantly increased in NAFLD tissues and was positively correlated with CCAT1. In conclusion, CCAT1 increases LXRα transcription by serving as a competing endogenous RNA for miR-613 in an LXRE-dependent manner, thereby promoting lipid droplet formation and NAFLD. CCAT1 and LXRα might be potent targets for NAFLD treatment. Show less
Dietary L-proline (proline) supplementation during gestation enhances fetal survival and placental development in mice. The objective of the present study was to test the hypothesis that this benefici Show more
Dietary L-proline (proline) supplementation during gestation enhances fetal survival and placental development in mice. The objective of the present study was to test the hypothesis that this beneficial effect of proline was associated with alterations in inflammatory response at the placenta and fetus interface. Populations of immune cells present in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were determined by flow cytometry analysis. The concentrations of immunoglobulins in plasma, and the concentrations of cytokines in plasma, uterus, placenta, and amniotic fluid were measured using a bead-based immunoassay. The data showed that proline supplementation led to higher (P < 0.05) populations of B lymphocytes (CD3 Show less
Our previous research found that Sangguayin (SGY) deccoction made by four dietary and medicinal plant components (Leaf of Morus alba L., Root of Pueraria lobata (Willd.) Ohwi., Root of Dioscorea oppos Show more
Our previous research found that Sangguayin (SGY) deccoction made by four dietary and medicinal plant components (Leaf of Morus alba L., Root of Pueraria lobata (Willd.) Ohwi., Root of Dioscorea opposita Thunb. and Fruit of Momordica charantia L.) showed significant anti-diabetic effects on db/db mice and high fat diet induced obese mice. Nevertheless, it remained unclear what the role of gut microbiota in the hypoglycaemia effects of SGY. This study aimed to examine the beneficial effects of Sangguayin Deccoction against metabolic syndrome and and its regulating role in gut microbiota and hepatic metabolome. C57BL/6J mice were divided to a normal chow diet (NCD), high-fat diet (HFD), and high-fat diet with Sangguayin Decoction (HFD-SGY, oral dose of 250 mg/kg/d) for 16 weeks. Next generation sequencing was applied for analyzing the gut microbial community of colonic contents. Further, untargeted metabolomic analysis based on LC-MS was used for determining the changes of hepatic metabolites. Hepatic genes expression were measured by quantitative PCR. SGY supplement decreased blood glucose level and glucose intolerance. Illumina MiSeq sequencing revealed that SGY increased Verrucomicrobia phylum, resulting in a bloom of Akkermansia, and eventually upregulated the contents of Lachoclostridium and Roseburia. Additionally, dietary SGY decreased bacteria including Faecalibaculum, and Blautia. Moreover, the hepatic lipid metabolism was notably altered by SGY treatment. The oxidation of glutamione metabolism idecreasees, production of poly-unsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) got significant increase in liver tissue. The reversion of PUFA metabolism by SGY may act through PPARα mediated Fads1 and Fads2 gene expression. The altered metabolites in liver showed intimate correlatship with modified genera. Data indicated that SGY reshaped gut microbial structure and improved PUFA metabolism. These functions of SGY may alter hepatic lipid metabolism, conferring preventative effects against high-fat diet induced metabolic syndrome. Show less
Neuroplasticity and connectivity in the central nervous system (CNS) are easily damaged after hypoxia. Long-term exposure to an anoxic environment can lead to neuropsychiatric symptoms and increases t Show more
Neuroplasticity and connectivity in the central nervous system (CNS) are easily damaged after hypoxia. Long-term exposure to an anoxic environment can lead to neuropsychiatric symptoms and increases the likelihood of depression. Demyelination is an important lesion of CNS injury that may occur in depression. Previous studies have found that the RhoA/ROCK pathway is upregulated in neuropsychiatric disorders such as multiple sclerosis, stroke, and neurodegenerative diseases. Therefore, the chief aim of this study is to explore the regulatory role of the RhoA/ROCK pathway in the development of depression after hypoxia by behavioral tests, Western blotting, immunostaining as well as electron microscopy. Results showed that HIF-1α, S100β, RhoA/ROCK, and immobility time in FST were increased, sucrose water preference ratio in SPT was decreased, and the aberrant activity of neurocyte and demyelination occurred after hypoxia. After the administration of Y-27632 and fluoxetine in hypoxia, these alterations were improved. Lingo1, a negative regulatory factor, was also overexpressed after hypoxia and its expression was decreased when the pathway blocked. However, fluoxetine had no effect on the expression of Lingo1. Then, we demonstrated that demyelination was associated with failures of oligodendrocyte precursor cell proliferation and differentiation and increased apoptosis of oligodendrocytes. Collectively, our data indicate that the RhoA/ROCK pathway plays a vital role in the initial depression during hypoxia. Blocking this pathway in the early stage of hypoxia can enhance the effectiveness of antidepressants, rescue myelin damage, and reduce the expression of the negative regulatory protein of myelination. The findings provide new insight into the prophylaxis and treatment of depression. Show less
Juvenile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (JNCL, aka. juvenile Batten disease or CLN3 disease) is a lysosomal storage disease characterized by progressive blindness, seizures, cognitive and motor failur Show more
Juvenile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (JNCL, aka. juvenile Batten disease or CLN3 disease) is a lysosomal storage disease characterized by progressive blindness, seizures, cognitive and motor failures, and premature death. JNCL is caused by mutations in the Ceroid Lipofuscinosis, Neuronal 3 (CLN3) gene, whose function is unclear. Although traditionally considered a neurodegenerative disease, CLN3 disease displays eye-specific effects: Vision loss not only is often one of the earliest symptoms of JNCL, but also has been reported in non-syndromic CLN3 disease. Here we described the roles of CLN3 protein in maintaining healthy retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and normal vision. Using electroretinogram, fundoscopy and microscopy, we showed impaired visual function, retinal autofluorescent lesions, and RPE disintegration and metaplasia/hyperplasia in a Cln3 ~ 1 kb-deletion mouse model [1] on C57BL/6J background. Utilizing a combination of biochemical analyses, RNA-Seq, Seahorse XF bioenergetic analysis, and Stable Isotope Resolved Metabolomics (SIRM), we further demonstrated that loss of CLN3 increased autophagic flux, suppressed mTORC1 and Akt activities, enhanced AMPK activity, and up-regulated gene expression of the autophagy-lysosomal system in RPE-1 cells, suggesting autophagy induction. This CLN3 deficiency induced autophagy induction coincided with decreased mitochondrial oxygen consumption, glycolysis, the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, and ATP production. We also reported for the first time that loss of CLN3 led to glycogen accumulation despite of impaired glycogen synthesis. Our comprehensive analyses shed light on how loss of CLN3 affect autophagy and metabolism. This work suggests possible links among metabolic impairment, autophagy induction and lysosomal storage, as well as between RPE atrophy/degeneration and vision loss in JNCL. Show less
Numerous evidences have shown that circular RNAs (circRNAs) play a key role in regulating the pathogenesis of cancer. However, the mechanism of circRNAs in urothelial carcinoma of bladder (UCB) remain Show more
Numerous evidences have shown that circular RNAs (circRNAs) play a key role in regulating the pathogenesis of cancer. However, the mechanism of circRNAs in urothelial carcinoma of bladder (UCB) remains largely unclear. In this study, we found circFAM114A2 was significantly downregulated both in UCB tissue specimens and cell lines, and the expression level was highly correlated with pathological TNM stage and grade. Functionally, overexpression of circFAM114A2 dramatically inhibited the migration, invasion and proliferation of UCB cells in vitro, and suppressed tumor growth in vivo. Mechanistically, we confirmed miR-762 was copiously pulled down by circFAM114A2 in 5637 and T24 cells. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) further indicated the cytoplasmic interactions between circFAM114A2 and miR-762. By using luciferase reporter assay, we found that miR-762 could directly target TP63. Subsequently, we found that circFAM114A2 might increase the expression of ∆NP63 (main isoform of TP63 in UCB) by sponging miR-762. Taken together, our results demonstrated that circFAM114A2 might serve as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) of miR-762 in regulating the expression of ∆NP63, thus suppressed UCB progression through circFAM114A2/miR-762/∆NP63 axis. Show less
Melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) plays important roles in regulation of multiple physiological processes, and interaction of MC4R and melanocortin receptor accessory protein 2 (MRAP2) is suggested to pl Show more
Melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) plays important roles in regulation of multiple physiological processes, and interaction of MC4R and melanocortin receptor accessory protein 2 (MRAP2) is suggested to play pivotal role in energy balance of vertebrates. Topmouth culter ( Show less
Emerging evidence shows that frequent recurrence of intracranial aneurysms (IAs) after endovascular coiling is attributable to the lack of endothelialization across the aneurysm neck. Recently, much a Show more
Emerging evidence shows that frequent recurrence of intracranial aneurysms (IAs) after endovascular coiling is attributable to the lack of endothelialization across the aneurysm neck. Recently, much attention has been given to the role of microRNAs (miRs) in vascular disease, although their contributory role to IA is poorly understood. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to microsurgery to create a coiled embolization aneurysm model, and were injected with miR-31a-5p agomir or a negative control agomir via the tail vein at a dose of 10 mg/kg per week for 4 weeks after IA induction. H & E staining, scanning electron microscopy, and flow cytometry were performed to evaluate the effects of miR-31a-5p agomir on endothelialization and the number of circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs). The effects of miR-31a-5p on the viability and functioning of EPCs were also determined using Cell Counting Kit-8, wound-healing assay, and tube formation assays. The authors tested the ability of miR-31a-5p to promote EPC-induced endothelialization in a model of coiled embolization aneurysm. miR-31a-5p agomir improved endothelialization and elevated the number of circulating EPCs in the peripheral blood compared to a negative control agomir-treated group. In addition, the number of vWF- and KDR-positive cells in the aneurysm neck was increased in the miR-31a-5p agomir-treated group. Furthermore, upregulation of miR-31a-5p promoted EPC proliferation, migration, and tube formation and enhanced the expression of the proangiogenic factor vascular endothelial growth factor in vitro. Mechanistically, miR-31a-5p directly targeted the 3' untranslated region (3'UTR) of Axin1 messenger RNA and repressed its expression. Besides, miR-31a-5p exerted its effect on EPCs by regulating the Axin1-mediated Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Collectively, these results indicate that miR-31a-5p is an important regulator of EPC mobilization and endothelialization and may have a positive effect on aneurysm repair. Show less
Atrial fibrillation (AF), known as the most common arrhythmia in the developed world, affects 1.5-2.0% of the population. Numerous basic studies have been carried out to identify the roles of electric Show more
Atrial fibrillation (AF), known as the most common arrhythmia in the developed world, affects 1.5-2.0% of the population. Numerous basic studies have been carried out to identify the roles of electric and structural remodeling in the pathophysiological changes of AF, but more explorations are required to further understand the mechanisms of AF development. Proteomics enables researchers to identify protein alterations responsible for the pathological developing progresses of diseases. Compared to the genome, the proteome is closely related to the disease phenotype and can better manifest the progression of diseases. In this study, AF patients proteomically analyzed to identify possible mechanisms. Totally 20 patients undergoing cardiac surgery (10 with paroxysmal AF and 10 with persistent AF) and 10 healthy subjects were recruited. The differentially expressed proteins identified here included AKR1A1, LYZ, H2AFY, DDAH1, FGA, FGB, LAMB1, LAMC1, MYL2, MYBPC3, MYL5, MYH10, HNRNPU, DKK3, COPS7A, YWHAQ, and PAICS. These proteins were mainly involved in the development of structural remodeling. The differently expressed proteins may provide a new perspective for the pathological process of AF, and may enable useful targets for drug interference. Nevertheless, more research in terms of multi-omics is required to investigate possible implicated molecular pathways of AF development. Show less
Genome-wide association studies have identified hundreds of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that are associated with BMI and diabetes. However, lack of adequate data has for long time prevented Show more
Genome-wide association studies have identified hundreds of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that are associated with BMI and diabetes. However, lack of adequate data has for long time prevented investigations on the pathogenesis of diabetes where BMI was a mediator of the genetic causal effects on this disease. Of our particular interest is the underlying causal mechanisms of diabetes. We leveraged the summary statistics reported in two studies: UK Biobank (N = 336,473) and Genetic Investigation of ANthropometric Traits (GIANT, N = 339,224) to investigate BMI-mediated genetic causal pathways to diabetes. We first estimated the causal effect of BMI on diabetes by using four Mendelian randomization methods, where a total of 76 independent BMI-associated SNPs (R Show less
A further understanding of the molecular mechanism of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is necessary to predict a patient's prognosis and develop new targeted gene drugs. This study aims to identify esse Show more
A further understanding of the molecular mechanism of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is necessary to predict a patient's prognosis and develop new targeted gene drugs. This study aims to identify essential genes related to HCC. We used the Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) and differential gene expression analysis to analyze the gene expression profile of GSE45114 in the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database and The Cancer Genome Atlas database (TCGA). A total of 37 overlapping genes were extracted from four groups of results. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway and Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analyses were performed on the 37 overlapping genes. Then, we used the STRING database to map the protein interaction (PPI) network of 37 overlapping genes. Ten hub genes were screened according to the Maximal Clique Centrality (MCC) score using the Cytohubba plugin of Cytoscape (including FOS, EGR1, EPHA2, DUSP1, IGFBP3, SOCS2, ID1, DUSP6, MT1G, and MT1H). Most hub genes show a significant association with immune infiltration types and tumor stemness of microenvironment in HCC. According to Univariate Cox regression analysis and Kaplan-Meier survival estimation, SOCS2 was positively correlated with overall survival (OS), and IGFBP3 was negatively correlated with OS. Moreover, the expression of IGFBP3 increased with the increase of the clinical stage, while the expression of SOCS2 decreased with the increase of the clinical stage. In conclusion, our findings suggest that SOCS2 and IGFBP3 may play an essential role in the development of HCC and may serve as a potential biomarker for future diagnosis and treatment. Show less
Numerous single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), which have been identified as susceptibility factors for Parkinson's disease (PD) as per genome-wide association studies, have not been fully character Show more
Numerous single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), which have been identified as susceptibility factors for Parkinson's disease (PD) as per genome-wide association studies, have not been fully characterized for PD patients in China. This study aimed to replicate the relationship between 12 novel SNPs of 12 genes and PD risk in southern Chinese population. Twelve SNPs of 12 genes were detected in 231 PD patients and 249 controls, using the SNaPshot technique. Meta-analysis was used to assess heterogeneity of effect sizes between this study and published data. The impact of SNPs on gene expression was investigated by analysing the SNP-gene association in the expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) data sets. rs8180209 of SNCA (allele model: P = .047, OR = 0.77; additive model: P = .047, OR = 0.77), rs2270968 of MCCC1 (dominant model: P = .024, OR = 1.52), rs7479949 of DLG2 (recessive model; P = .019, OR = 1.52), rs10748818 of GBF1 (additive model: P < .001, OR = 0.37), and rs4771268 of MBNL2 (recessive model: P = .003, OR = 0.48) were replicated to be significantly associated with the increased risk of PD. Noteworthy, a meta-analysis of previous studies suggested rs8180209, rs2270968, rs7479949 and rs4771268 were in line with those of our cohort. Our study replicated five novel functional SNPs in SNCA, MCCC1, DLG2, GBF1 and MBNL2 could be associated with increased risk of PD in southern Chinese population. Show less
Zhi Liu, Fuyun Sun, Zitian Liu+8 more · 2020 · Medical science monitor : international medical journal of experimental and clinical research · added 2026-04-24
BACKGROUND The mechanism by which sleeve gastrectomy (SG) improves glycometabolism has remained unclear so far. Increasing evidence has demonstrated that bone is a regulator of glucose metabolism, and Show more
BACKGROUND The mechanism by which sleeve gastrectomy (SG) improves glycometabolism has remained unclear so far. Increasing evidence has demonstrated that bone is a regulator of glucose metabolism, and osteoblast-derived forkhead box O1 (FoxO1) and lipocalin-2 (LCN2) are regulators of energy metabolism. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the FOXO1/LCN2 signaling pathway is involved in the anti-diabetic effect of SG. MATERIAL AND METHODS Insulin resistance was induced in Wistar rats, which were then intraperitoneally injected with streptozotocin to induce a type 2 diabetic state. Levels of fasting blood glucose, serum insulin, HbA1c, and LCN2 were analyzed at corresponding time points after SG and sham surgeries. The expressions of FOXO1, LCN2, and the melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R) in bone and hypothalamus were detected by immunofluorescence. FOXO1 siRNA was applied to downregulate FOXO1 expression in osteoblasts of rats. The influence of FOXO1 gene on expression of LCN2 was investigated in cultured osteoblasts by western blot and PCR. RESULTS Glucose metabolism in the SG group was significantly improved. The LCN2 expression in bone in the SG group was higher than that in the sham group, whereas FOXO1 expression in the SG group was lower than that in the sham group. The binding rate of LCN2 and MC4R in the hypothalamus was also higher in the SG group compared with that in the sham group. The downregulation of FOXO1 expression in osteoblasts was accompanied by upregulation of LCN2 expression. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that the FOXO1/LCN2 signaling pathway participates in the anti-diabetic effect of SG. Show less
Tumour cells interfere with normal immune functions by affecting the expression of some immune-related genes, which play roles in the prognosis of cancer patients. In recent years, immunotherapy for t Show more
Tumour cells interfere with normal immune functions by affecting the expression of some immune-related genes, which play roles in the prognosis of cancer patients. In recent years, immunotherapy for tumours has been widely studied, but a practical prognostic model based on immune-related genes in lung adenocarcinoma comparable to existing model has not been established and reported. We first obtained publicly accessible lung adenocarcinoma RNA expression data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) for differential gene expression analysis and then filtered immune-related genes based on the ImmPort database. By using the lasso algorithm and multivariate Cox Proportional-Hazards (CoxPH) regression analysis, we identified candidate genes for model development and validation. The robustness of the model was further examined by comparing the model with three established gene models. Gene expression data from a total of 524 lung adenocarcinoma patients from TCGA were used for model development. We identified four biomarkers (MAP3K8, CCL20, VEGFC, and ANGPTL4) that could predict overall survival in lung adenocarcinoma (HR = 1.98, 95% CI 1.48 to 2.64, P = 4.19e-06) and this model could be used as a classifier for the evaluation of low-risk and high-risk groups. This model was validated with independent microarray data and was highly comparable with previously reported gene expression signatures for lung adenocarcinoma prognosis. In this study, we identified a practical and robust four-gene prognostic model based on an immune gene dataset with cross-platform compatibility. This model has potential value in improving TNM staging for survival predictions in patients with lung adenocarcinoma. The study provides a method of immune relevant gene prognosis model and the identification of immune gene classifier for the prediction of lung adenocarcinoma prognosis with RNA sequencing and microarray compatibility. Show less
Macroautophagy/autophagy plays key roles in development, oncogenesis, and cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Autophagy-specific class III phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase complex I (PtdIns3K-C1) is e Show more
Macroautophagy/autophagy plays key roles in development, oncogenesis, and cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Autophagy-specific class III phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase complex I (PtdIns3K-C1) is essential for autophagosome formation. However, the regulation of this complex formation requires further investigation. Here, we discovered that STYK1 (serine/threonine/tyrosine kinase 1), a member of the receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) family, is a new upstream regulator of autophagy. We discovered that STYK1 facilitated autophagosome formation in human cells and zebrafish, which was characterized by elevated LC3-II and lowered SQSTM1/p62 levels and increased puncta formation by several marker proteins, such as ATG14, WIPI1, and ZFYVE1. Moreover, we observed that STYK1 directly binds to the PtdIns3K-C1 complex as a homodimer. The binding with this complex was promoted by Tyr191 phosphorylation, by means of which the kinase activity of STYK1 was elevated. We also demonstrated that STYK1 elevated the serine phosphorylation of BECN1, thereby decreasing the interaction between BECN1 and BCL2. Furthermore, we found that STYK1 preferentially facilitated the assembly of the PtdIns3K-C1 complex and was required for PtdIns3K-C1 complex kinase activity. Taken together, our findings provide new insights into autophagy induction and reveal evidence of novel crosstalk between the components of RTK signaling and autophagy. Show less
Impaired macroautophagy/autophagy is involved in the pathogenesis of hepatic fibrosis. However, how aberrant autophagy promotes fibrosis is far from understood. Here, we aimed to define a previously u Show more
Impaired macroautophagy/autophagy is involved in the pathogenesis of hepatic fibrosis. However, how aberrant autophagy promotes fibrosis is far from understood. Here, we aimed to define a previously unrevealed pro-fibrotic mechanism for the stress protein TRIB3 (tribbles pseudokinase 3)-mediated autophagy dysfunction. Human fibrotic liver tissues were obtained from patients with cirrhosis who underwent an open surgical repair process. The functional implications of TRIB3 were evaluated in mouse models of hepatic fibrosis induced by bile duct ligation (BDL) or thioacetamide (TAA) injection. Human fibrotic liver tissues expressed higher levels of TRIB3 and selective autophagic receptor SQSTM1/p62 (sequestosome 1) than nonfibrotic tissues and the elevated expression of TRIB3 and SQSTM1 was positively correlated in the fibrotic tissues. Silencing Show less
The metastasis of cervical cancer has always been a clinical challenge. We investigated the effects of low-dose naltrexone (LDN) on the epithelial mesenchymal transition of cervical cancer cells in vi Show more
The metastasis of cervical cancer has always been a clinical challenge. We investigated the effects of low-dose naltrexone (LDN) on the epithelial mesenchymal transition of cervical cancer cells in vitro as well as its influence on macrophage polarization and associated cytokines in vivo. The results suggested that LDN supressed the proliferation, migration and invasion abilities and promote their apoptosis in Hela cells, whereas the opioid growth factor receptor (OGFr) silenced significantly reversed these effects in vitro. Knockdown the expression of OGFr, the inhibitory of LDN on EMT was weakened. LDN could inhibit cervical cancer progression in nude mice. In additon, LDN indirectly reduced the number of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), mainly M2 macrophages, and decreased expression of anti-inflammatory factor IL-10 in the serum of nude mice. These findings demonstrate that LDN could be a potential treatment for cervical cancer. Show less
Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) modulate a variety of cancerous biological processes, including the promotion of tumorigenicity in tumor parenchymal cells. However, there is a lack of studies assessing Show more
Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) modulate a variety of cancerous biological processes, including the promotion of tumorigenicity in tumor parenchymal cells. However, there is a lack of studies assessing the regulation of lncRNAs in cancer-associated fibroblasts. In the present study, a novel lncRNA, TIRY, was found to act as a miRNA sponge and to downregulate miR-14 expression in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Fluorescence This study demonstrated the novel lncRNA, TIRY, enhances epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in cancer-associated fibroblasts and promotes the metastasis of tumor via miR-14 sponging in oral squamous cell carcinoma, and thus provide a novel molecular mechanism underlying the role of TIRY in CAFs in tumor biology and a potential target in OSCC. Further, the data showed that TIRY expression was negatively correlated with miR-14 transcription levels and was associated with poor prognosis in OSCC specimens. Therefore, TIRY may be a potential prognostic biomarker of overall survival and progression-free survival in OSCC. Moreover, TIRY adds to the understanding of regulatory mechanisms involved in CAFs and epithelial cancer cells in OSCC and may provide novel insights for further understanding tumor biology. Show less